Fringed towel



Feb. 4, 1969 R. c. TANNER ETAL FRINGED TOWEL Filed Sept. 29, 1965 Paola. T

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, mvsmo s flwe ATTO H1 NEYS United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fringed towel wherein the fringes have a twist stabilizing material applied thereto selected from the group consisting of thermosetting resins, cross-linking reactants and combinations thereof to maintain the integrity of the fringed yarns by substantially reducing the tendency of the yarns to untwist, fray and become bunched with each other upon repeated launderings.

This invention relates to a towel of the type having a fringe extending outwardly from opposite ends of the body of the towel.

The fringe yarns of a conventional towel of this type have an inherent tendency to partially untwist so that adjacent groups of yarns bunch together and form separate groups or locks which distract from the appearance of the towels when displayed for sale to prospective customers. With repeated launderings, the fringe yarns further untwist so that they are easily frayed and the fringe takes on an unsightly worn or ragged edge appearance.

In attempts to overcome the untwisting of the fringe yarn and the resulting undesirable appearance, oppositely twisted and plied together warp yarns have been used. Also, alternating warp yarns having opposite twist have been used. However, both of these approaches to the problem are very costly and they do not prevent untwisting, particularly after the towel is laundered.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an improved fringed towel wherein untwisting of the fringe yarns is prevented in an economical manner so that the yarns do not initially bunch together and they do not subsequently become frayed and worn, even after repeated launderings, whereby the fringe of the towel maintains the desired appearance for a long period of time.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a fringed towel of the type described wherein the twisted fringe yarns are treated with a twist stabilizing material, such as thermosetting resins, cross-linking reactants, and the like to set or stabilize the twist in the fringe yarn and prevent untwisting, without essential-1y altering the outward physical appearance of the fringe yarns.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the acompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a photograph of a fringed towel in the type with which the present invention is particularly concerned, wherein a fringe is provided at each end;

FIGURE 2 is a photograph of one end portion of a fringed towel of the conventional type and illustrating the manner in which the fringe yarns bunch together to form unsightly locks before the towel is laundered;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 of the conventional fringed towel and illustrating the frayed and worn appearance of the fringe after repeated launderings of the towel;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrating the improvement in appearance of the fringe of the towel of the present invention, before it is laundered; and

3,425,891 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrating the improvement in appearance of the fringe of the towel of the present invention, after repeated launderings.

Referring to the drawings, a fringed towel of the type with which the present invention is particularly concerned is shown in FIGURE 1. However, the present invention is also useful with other types of fringed towels, wash cloths and the like. As shown in FIGURE 1, the towel includes a body portion B that is formed in any suitable manner of interwoven warp and filling yarns. The warp yarns preferably extend from one end to the other of the towel and outwardly beyond opposite ends of the woven body portion B to form fringes, broadly indicated at F. This is commonly known as a self-fringed towel and the fringe forming warp yarns are normally formed of twisted cellulosic staple fibers, such as cotton, rayon, and blends theerof, with or without other fibers. The warp yarns are preferably low twist single yarns to provide a desirable degree of softness in the terry loops T that are usually formed on opposite faces of the body portion B.

The towels are normally woven in a continuous length with adjacent towels being joined together by sections of unwoven warp threads. The continuous length of towel material is then subjected to the usual bleaching and finishing operation before the towel material is cut transversely to separate the towels. The transverse cuts are made through the medial portion of the unwoven warp yarn sections joining adjacent towel body sections to thereby form the fringes F on each end of each towel.

When the unwoven twisted warp yarns of the conventional type towel are cut, to form the fringe F, the twisted fringe yarns have an inherent tendency to untwist. As these fringe yarns begin to untwist, they group together and form locks or bunches, as indicated at 10 in FIG- URE 2. These irregular locks or bunches 10 present an undesirable appearance on the fringe F when viewed by a prospective purchaser.

The conventional type fringed towel shown in FIGURE 3 has been subjected to ten (10) washing and drying laundry cycles and it is clear that the fringe F has become frayed and the fringe yarns are matted together. As the towel is subjected to agitation with each washing and drying, the fringe yarns become untwisted to a greater degree so that the fibers are loosened and mat with loose fibers of adjacent fringe yarns to form matted bunches, as indicated at 11 in FIGURE 3, across the fringe of the towel. Thus, the fringe F of the laundered towel takes on a worn and ragged unsightly appearance when displayed, as on the towel racks in the bathroom of the home. While this frayed fringe does not affect the absorbing quality of the body B of the towel, it does give the towel an objectionable and premature worn-out appearance.

One end of the fringed towel of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 4 as it appears before laundering with FIGURE 5 illustrating one end of the towel of the present invention after ten (10) .launderings. The body portion B is formed of interwoven warp and filling yarns with terry loops T on opposite faces thereof. The staple fiber twisted warp yarns extend outwardly beyond the ends of the body portion B and form fringes on opposite ends of the towel, only one of which is shown at F in FIG- URE 4. By comparing the unlaundered fringes of FIG- URES 2 and 4, it is obvious that the fringe yarns of the towel of the present invention (FIGURE 4) do not untwist and bunch together but remain in side-by-side relationship to present a much more attractive appearance. Further comparison of the laundered fringes of FIGURES 3 and 5, shows how this more attractive appearance is maintained and how the integrity and wearability of the fringe is vast- 11y improved with little or no trace of matting or fraying of the fringe yarns.

The fringed towel of the present invention is also preferably formed in a continuous length with unwoven sections of warp yarns connecting adjacent towels so that it may be bleached and finished while in this continuous length. Preferably, while still in this continuous length with the unwoven warp yarns in parallel side-by-side relation, a suitable twist stabilizing material is applied to the unwoven warp yarns extending between adjacent towel body portions of the towel material. Applied in this limited area, the stabilizing material, which inherently reduces the water absorbency characteristics of the yarns, does not affect the water absorbency of the body of the towel.

The stabilizing material applied to the unwoven warp yarns acts to set or stabilize the twist in these yarns against untwisting after they are cut to form the individual towels with fringes on oppoiste ends. The twist stabilizing material may be applied to the sections of unwoven fringe yarns of the continuous towel material by any suitable means, such as spraying, printing or stamping.

As noted, the stabilizing material serves to overcome the inherent tendency of the fringe yarns to untwist and additionally should not change the outward physical appearance of the fringe yarns such as their ability to move relative to each other to avoid presenting a harsh stiff fringe which would be uncomfortable to a user. It has been found that a variety of thermosetting resins or crosslinking reactants will set the twist in the yarns and are of such a character that they do not cause the fringe yarns to adhere to each other so that the individual yarns of the fringe remain free and independent :of each other to avoid appreciably stiffening the fringe. In addition to setting the twist in the fringe yarns, the thermosetting resin or the cross-linking reactant also reduces the water absorbency of the fringe yarns so that they do not swell to as great an extent during laundering so that the staple fibers do not become loosened as easily.

Some additional advantages may be realized by using a combination of a thermosetting resin and a cross-linking reactant. For example, it has been found that when certain types of reactants are used with thermosetting resins to set the twist in the fringe yarns, the fringe will more readily pick up the optical brightener which is normally present-day detergents so that the fringe does not appear somewhat dingy, as is the case, whensome of the resins are used alone.

When some types of cross-linking reactants are used alone to set the twist, the twist of the fringe yarn is not sufficiently set to completely overcome the problem of untwisting and bunching together of the fringe yarns prior to laundering, and fraying and wearing of the fringe yarns after repeated launderings. Therefore, various combinations of thermosetting resins and cross-linking reactants have been found to give enhanced advantages.

A number of commercially available thermosetting resins and cross-linking reactants as well as combinations of both have produced satisfactory results. As non-limiting illustrations, the following examples have given very satisfactory results. All percent values are solution strengths in aqueous solution.

Example No. 1 Product: Percent Reactant 439 (Quaker Chemical Corp.)

modified triazone crosslinleing reactant 10.0 Protorez EU-SO-LF (Proctor Chemical Co.)

modified urea formaldehyde thermosetting resin 5.0 Acid-salt catalyst 1.0

Example No. 2 Product: Percent Hylite 11F (Proctor Chemical Co.) nitrogenous condensate thermosetting resin 10.0 Magnesium chloride 2.0

4 Example No. 3 Product: Percent Reactant 439 (Quaker Chemical Corp.)

modified triazone cross-linking reactant 10.0 Acid-salt catalyst 1.0

From the foregoing discussion, it is evident that the improved towel fringe of the present invention not only greatly enhances the appearance of the towel before and after laundering, but also increases the wearability and prolongs the life of the fringe Without reducing the water absorbency characteristics of the body portion of the towel.

Where the term towel is used throughout the specification and claims, it is intended to include any type of fringed cloth for Washing or wiping, such as wash cloths, hand towels, bath towels, bath mats, dish towels, and the like.

We claim:

1. A towel having a body portion formed of interwoven warp and filling yarns, said yarns being formed of twisted staple fibers, opposite end portions of the warp yarns extending outwardly from the body and forming fringes on opposite ends of the towel, the yarns of each fringe normally having an inherent tendency to untwist and fray upon repeated launderings; the improvement which comprises a twist stabilizing material selected from the group consisting of thermosetting resins, cross-linking reactants, and combinations of these two, applied to the yarns of each fringe with the outward physical appearance of the yarns and their individually being essentially unaltered thereby, said stabilizing material co-acting with the yarns of said fringes to maintain the integrity of the yarns by substantially reducing the tendency of the yarns to untwist, fray and become bunched with each other upon repeated launderings.

2. A woven fringed towel wherein yarns consisting essentially of twisted cellulosic staple fibers form the fringe thereof and which yarns normally have an inherent tendency upon repeated launderings to untwist, fray and become bunched with each other to present an unsightly, ragged edge appearance to the towel, the improvement which comprises said fringe yarns having a twist stabilizing material applied thereto selected from the group consisting of thermosetting resins, cross-linking reactants, and combinations of these two, the outward physical appearance of the yarns and their individuality being essentially unaltered by said material, said material substantially reducing the normal tendency of the fringe yarns to untwist and fray upon repeated launderings whereby the life of the fringe yarns is materially increased and the desired appearance of the towel is maintained for a longer period of time.

3. A woven fringed towel wherein yarns having cut free ends and consisting essentially of twisted cellulosic fibers form the fringe thereof and which yarns normally have an inherent tendency to initially untwist and bunch with each other in an irregular manner before laundering, the fringe yarns becoming further untwisted upon repeated launderings to free the fibers so that the yarns frayed and irregularly matted together to present an unsightly, ragged edge appearance to the towel, the improvement which com prises said fringe yarns having a twist stabilizing material applied thereto selected from the group consisting of thermosetting resins, cross-linking reactants, and combinations of these two, the outward physical appearance of the yarns and their individuality being essentially unaltered by said material, said material substantially reducing the normal tendency of the fringe yarns to initially untwist and also reducing the untwisting of the fringe yarns upon repeated launderings whereby the life of the fringe yarns is materially increased and the desired appearance of the towel is maintained for a longer period of time.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Stan1ey ROGER H. CRISS, Assistant Examiner. Wood et a]. 11744 XR Clifford et a1. 117-4 5 Dexter et a1. 1174 XR ROBERT E. BURNETT, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,425,891

February 4, 1969 Richard C. Tanner et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 45, after "normally insert present in most Signed and sealed this 17th day'of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, IR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

